Onvis CT3 Door and Window Contact sensor review - HomeKit over Thread

Onvis is jumping onto the Thread bandwagon with an update to its contact sensor, the CT3. The Onvis CT3 door and window contact sensor is as its name implies, it’s a contact sensor that works with HomeKit Over Thread.

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Timestamps
Intro 00:00
Design and Features 00:48
Setup 2:16
HomeKit control 3:10
Thread performance 5:11
Onvis App 5:54
Summary 7:49

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#HomeKit #Thread #Onvis

[alanmurrie]

Great review as always. One tiny nit-picky point - at 9:13 you mention the Aqara sensor supporting “Thread” via the M2 hub. Did you mean Matter, rather than Thread?

[ronaldstein]

I’m not sure where I would mount this for an overhead garage door. Thanks for your review. I am interested but unclear if this will work for my situation. I just want to know if the garage door is open or closed.

[ashleyhaller]

Thanks for the review. Always good to have other options. I just wish these types of sensors had adapters available for rounded window frames. I went for Eve in the end, as I was just able to get them to stick to my windows frames, without them falling off. However, I'm not really that happy with them, after investing several for all my windows and doors. Some of them have really poor battery status stability. Some of them report a low battery randomly. And after swapping the batteries out for fresh ones. The low battery status remains, or shows random readings. Resetting them doesn't help, nor does removing them and re-adding them via the Eve app. Eve support have not been much help either. As all they were able to suggest was a reset. They are the older BT only ones, and are now out of warrantee now, so I can't send them back. Was hoping these might be an alternative, as these are Thread enabled. But, I don't think they'll stick to my curved window frames. Pity.

[BryanBortz]

Hey, false information at 2:04.

I bought a set from your link and it did _not_ come with spacers. And now I cant use it where I needed to. You should fix this.

[nicholas]

I have the Eve ones in my HomeKit. The thread works nice, but battery life is not really a year. Also a big issue with me is that these devices don’t fit the door frame very well so the adhesive works but is not very secure because the curved surface of the door frame does not match the flat contour of the devices. I had to replace the sensor several times in my garage because the adhesive tape failed and the magnet or base fell to the ground. Looks like the same issue is on these examples. Also the larger part is not very attractive.
it seems to me these device could be much smaller. And a better mounting contour of the sensors would go a long way towards more reliable performance.

[cafultz]

The Abode Door/Window sensors also exist. But can you integrate other HomeKit sensors to work with Abode Security?

[kendrick.e.williams]

Can one use other THREAD Boarder Routers, such as an Ecobee? Other than Apple TV & HomePod?

[Bikepacking]

Can you do a complete guide for making a house in 2023 that has every thing thread and amateur that works with home kit

[PreparedWolf]

Why not tape or glue that side decal inside the device under the lid? That’s how you access the battery and your info should stay safe and out of sight.

[mememememe]

Nice one - an option to consider for sure

[Polkster]

And Aqara will be coming out with a Thread version of their contact sensor that does not require a hub and will be Matter compliant.

[giovanniturco]

First I am glad your back keep up the good work yesterday I received from SwitchBot the new SwitchBot hub 2 to test I did notices they was no matter label on the box or hub I can’t see it on my HomeKit why ? If I could send pictures of it I would

[melklass]

Would never buy this until I see a review from HomeKit news

[jasonstar]

Hopefully it works better than the camera that went in the bin

[napoleong]

Hopefully this one is reliable. I’m using the Aquara’s door sensor with Homekit to trigger restroom lights On/off. However, Aquara is not a reliable Homekit system. I got a lot of complaints from my family that the light is not ON/OFF when restroom doors close/open >>> Avoid Aquara at all cost !!!!